RARITAN TWP. -- What better way to celebrate your birthday than to stand in rain and heavy mist from midnight to 10 a.m., waiting for a restaurant's grand opening?

Santiago Cuellar of Whitehouse, aka D.J. Joonyer, did just that on Monday, with Natasha Alvarez of Flemington at his side at the opening of Buffalo Wild Wings. He huddled with a comforter wrapped around him to keep off the chill. In another couple weeks he can warm up when he goes to Las Vegas to perform.

"We looked at each other and said, 'Uh, free food!'" said Alvarez at 9:30 a.m. from the front of the line.

Cuellar wasn't the only birthday boy there. Dan Troutman was halfway back in line, and it's his birthday too. He went up to the front of the line to greet Cuellar, then roused the whole line to sing happy birthday to Santiago.

Paul Ivanauskas of Raritan Township is getting to be a pro at restaurant openings; he collected a coupon at Roy Rogers when it opened. Asked if it's a chicken thing that brought him to Buffalo Wild Wings, he said, "It's a chicken, beer, and being able to have a nice place to go out to in the evening thing."

The sports bar chain, which features more than 20 wing flavors, 30 different beers on tap and wall-to-wall televisions, is open seven days a week and has extended evening hours. It's open Sunday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Mario Russo of Sergeantsville carpooled with Greg Abbate of Flemington to Monday's opening. "My wife took off from work so I could come here," Abbate said. "My job is to bring home coupons for free food. But if I show up without wings I'm in trouble."

Joining the line-up was Christine Martinez, with her daughters, Alyssa, 1 1/2, and Alianna, almost 3. "My husband was here at 6," Martinez said. "Then I relieved him and he went to work."

Bria Reasoner of Flemington and Kyra Baker and Ashley Finkelstein of Ringoes were waiting in style, with pop-up chairs and blankets.

As the doors opened the line quickly disappeared inside, greeted by wait staff and dozens of screens showing all types of sports -- golf, hockey, basketball, soccer. It was only a short wait before the snack-size wing orders were streaming out of the kitchen.

Buffalo Wild Wings is in Raritan Town Center off Route 31 north, in front of Lowe's.